John 6:1-­15

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus for President?

How many of you would vote for Jesus?

If you do, why would you vote for Jesus?

Don’t make Jesus your king.

We try to make ​Jesus our king.

6:15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king,

Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

We crown or crucify the king based upon performance.

Why do people try to make Jesus their king?

In other words, what does your desire to make someone or something king reflect about you?

1. Because Jesus brought health to them.

Not so much they wanted to obey him, but because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. (v. 2)

“And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.”

2. Because Jesus brought wealth to them.

“Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” (v. 7)

3. Because Jesus brought worth to them.

“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (v. 14)

Bad news is that we want to be like God​.

Pride and pity are two sides of the same coin.

The portrait on the coin is Caesar, Washington, or you.

Good news is that Jesus is the King whether you vote for him or not.

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. (v. 5­6)

Why is Jesus King?

Psalm 2:1­-12

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

CG Questions

1. Share some examples of how we crown or crucify celebrities.

2. Where do your desires for control, meaning, or a sense of purpose come from?